Wandering

Severus cursed his slow response and struggled desperately against the magical bonds as the men advanced. Hermione was only a few inches from him, and he could feel her tremble. Cold dread filled him as one of the men licked his lips and stared hungrily at her.

“Well listen, Dolor, I say we have a bit o’ fun with em’ afore we return em.”

Hermione’s breathing picked up, and Severus was afraid she might hyperventilate. The man called Dolor smiled and rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

“Out o’ tha way there Snape!” Dolor said, delivering a swift boot to his gut. Severus shut his eyes against the pain and listened to the men shuffle beside him. Hermione’s breath was now coming in loud, swift intervals.

“Finite Incantantem.”

Hermione’s binds were released, and Severus opened his eyes to see her dive for her wand. She cried out as the other man caught her hair and yanked her back. Dolor laughed and pulled at her robe, hiking it up over her hips and exposing her underthings. Severus closed his eyes as her tears became audible. Her fear was almost tangible in the air, and he could do nothing to stop it.

Dolor greedily yanked her panties away from her soft skin, tearing them down the middle, as the yet unnamed man freed himself from his attire. Hermione trembled from head to toe, and yelled out as the top of her robes were split open.

She kicked and struggled and scratched until, “Oy, Renling, grab ‘er ‘ands will yeah!” Renling took hold of her hands and pulled them high above her head. Dolor flicked his wand at her feet and bound them apart.

She tried to twist away from them, but received a loud slap across her face. Her lip opened, and she yelled out in pain, finally realizing her defeat.

“Please, please, please stop! Please!” she begged. It was to no avail. Dolor thrust a finger inside her. She arched her back and fought against her bonds. This time she earned a fist to the face with such force it made the room spin.

Severus cringed as Dolor took Hermione’s hips in his hands and mercilessly thrust into her unwilling body.

Her scream tore through their shelter, splitting the near silence of the forest and scattering birds through the trees. Severus’s heart shattered, and his gut clenched. Dolor stilled, fully sheathed inside Hermione, and waited for her first scream to fade away before slowly drawing out. This time he did not pause, but continued the rhythm at a relentless pace.

Severus shut his eyes and swallowed to stop his stomach from emptying itself. The men had her because she saved him from their dungeons. Guilt and sorrow washed over him as Morya’s face ghosted in front of his closed eyes.

Hermione’s world was erupting in pain, hot tears poured down her cheeks, and her back seared as it rocked against the earth. Ron had been her first, after N.E.W.T.S in the warm grass. It seemed impossible to her that something so tender and loving could be twisted into agony such as this. An eternity later, Dolor was spent. He drew out and her sobs quieted. She still hadn’t grasped what was happening, when, to her horror the men switched positions.

“Dolor was to easy on yeah lass, Ill righ’ tha’ don’ yeah worry.”

Hermione’s ears rang as he positioned between her legs, and Dolor grabbed her wrists. Renling drew his wand and pointed it at himself, casting a pale yellow glow around his member and smiling devilishly at her. “Poor lass, Renling is a tyrant, he is.”

Snape’s heart dropped to his stomach as the spell was cast. Many of the more ruthless Death Eaters, such as Macnair, greatly favored this charm when having their way. The pain it inflicted on its victim was excruciating. Lights flashed in his vision, and he gulped down air to steady himself. Again he pulled at his invisible restraints, twisting and fighting against the tight bonds.

Before Hermione knew what was happening, Renling entered her. Pain as though she never felt pain before exploded inside of her. It was fire. It was unintelligible pain that sent her into delirium. Her mind slammed down on one thought; the broken man she had saved hours before. Panic and desperation pushed his name from her lips as her body twisted in a vain attempt to thwart her attacker.

“S…Severus! SEVERUS! OH, GODS, HELP ME!”

Rage fired within Severus, and with every bit of strength he could muster, he managed to free his hand of the bond. Hermione’s wand lay inches from him, and in one fluid motion Severus grabbed it up and pointed it at the man pushing ruthlessly into her. No words were spoken as Severus blew Renling back, separating him from Hermione’s body before sending the green flash of death. Severus swiftly turned it on the other man, Dolor, and fired the same curse just as he released Hermione’s hands. A dull thump followed and it was over.

Severus pointed the wand at himself, releasing the bonds. The sun crept its way into the dark hollow as he struggled to his knees. Hermione lay in a crumpled heap, arms pulled to her chest, and face towards the wall. Her legs were still bound, and her robes still pushed to her navel. Severus carefully released her ankles and adjusted her robe without touching her as she rolled on her side. He looked away as she cried. He could see the body of Renling lying on its back at the entrance to their shelter. Severus scowled, and flicked Hermione’s wand in his direction, covering the body in loose earth so that she would not need to look upon it again. He sucked in a breath as a fresh wave of pain rippled over him and clutched his chest. His ribs crackled ominously, and he closed his eyes. Soon, he remembered Dolor and covered his body the same.

“Hermione. Hermione,’ he called to her, his voice tentative so as not to frighten or upset her further. He moved closer to her form so that his knees were almost touching her back. She whimpered as he gently rolled her onto her back. Her eyes shot open and she shoved his hand away from her, gathering her knees to her chest and scooting away from him. His face remained neutral as he watched her trembling violently. He kneeled down a short distance from her and carefully scooted closer, using the tips of his fingers for balance on the ground. When she was directly within his reach he lifted his hand to her, palm up, and whispered, “Don’t fear me.”

Hermione lifted her closed, red eyes to his and slowly opened them. He watched them flicker to his proffered hand, back to his eyes, before again dissolving into shaking sobs. He could not help his hands reaching for her, gathering her body into his arms. She clutched the front of his robes and buried her face in his chest. Relief washed over him when she accepted his touch, though a hiss of pain slipped past his lips.

Hermione buried her face in the side of his neck, wanting only for a moment of comfort before they fled again. Her body was broken, and her spirit shattered. Severus ignored the pain in his chest, and held her trembling form to him. Her tears were hot on his neck, and her weight was heavy. Slowly, she pulled away and met his eyes again, shocked to see concern and worry clearly across his features. Gently he touched the corner of her mouth, wiping away the blood that leaked from her bruised lip.

“We must leave, it is not safe,” he said to her. She closed her eyes and nodded against his shoulder. She had a good idea of where some of the Order members may be hiding if they were still alive. She drew in a deep breath, finding an odd comfort in Severus’s scent, and spoke. Her voice was muffled against his shoulder as she said, “I have an idea of where the Order may be, perhaps not their headquarters, but a refuge.”

Severus did not care to think of the welcome any of the Order members might give him, least of all, Harry Potter. It was a small issue though, his life had long been forfeit, and it was sheer luck, or lack of it, which had kept him alive this long. Hermione’s safety was priority, and there was no choice to be made.

Severus wrapped an arm around her waist and looked into her eyes. “You have to show me,” he said in the saddest tone she had ever heard from him. She nodded, and thought on it as he pointed her own wand at her.

He caught the image of the ranch and drew quickly from her mind, feeling he had violated her further. He wrapped her in his arms, and muttered a silent prayer to whoever would listen that he did not leave her behind or splinch them in the process. The forest echoed with their departing crack, and was still once again.




A warning for chapters after this, they have not been beta\'d yet, and the plot is changing just a bit, proceed with caution.